Mahalaya 2020: Durga Puja To Be Celebrated A Month After Mahalaya This Year; Check Dates & Know Significance Of The Day

Mahalaya 2020 Celebrations: Mahalaya is usually celebrated seven days prior to Durga Puja, where every Bengali household wakes up before the sun rise and customarily listen to a collection of shlokas and songs called ‘Mahishasura Mardini’, but this year the wait almost a month unlike other years.

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New Delhi: Even as the festive spirit remains subdued due to the health pandemic, devotees of Goddess Durga are set to welcome the Goddess by observing the auspicious occasion of ‘Mahalaya Amavasya' on September 17, which also sets the tone for the much-awaited annual festival Durga Puja in Bengal. What is the significance of Mahalaya? Typically, 'Mahalaya' marks the beginning of Devi Paksha and the end of the Pitri Paksha. Pitri Paksha is considered inauspicious, because shradhh or death rites are performed during this period. During the 16-day lunar period people remember and pay homage to their ancestors through food and water offerings. Mahalaya is usually celebrated seven days prior to Durga Puja, where every Bengali household wakes up before the sun rise and customarily listen to a collection of shlokas and songs called ‘Mahishasura Mardini’. The rendition of ‘Mahishasura Mardini’, by the famous voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra sets the tone for the annual pilgrimage of the Goddess. These mantras invoke the Goddess; the most famous one being Jago Tumi Jago (meaning, ‘awaken, oh Goddess!’) On this day people also offer obeisance to their forefathers on the banks of Ganga. What does the legend say? Even as there are several folklores associated with the day, but the most popular version believes Goddess Durga officially starts her journey from Mount Kailash, to her maternal home on Earth.  It is believed that Goddess Durga travels almost a week with her children Ganesha, Kartik, Lakshmi and Saraswati, on a vehicle of her choice which could be a palanquin or a boat, an elephant or a horse. Why Durga Puja this year falls almost a month after Mahalaya? This year the wait for Durga Puja after Mahalaya is almost a month unlike other years. This year 'Mahasashthi' is on October 22, the first day of the grand festivity Durga Puja. The 35-day gap between Mahlaya and 'Mashashthi' is because of the 'mala mash' or an 'unholy month' when auspicious rituals are avoided, according to scriptures. A 'mala mash' is a month, which has two new moons or 'Amavasyas.' As per the two schools of almanacs, known as the 'Bisuddha Siddhanta' (lunar calendar) and 'Surya Siddhanta' (solar calendar) shows agreement over this year's Durga Puja schedule. Durga Puja normally takes place in the month of 'Ashwin' but this year it will be in 'Kartik'. Ashwin is a 'mala mash' due to two new moons. Check here Durga Puja Days and dates:

• Panchami: October 21
• Shashthi: October 22
• Saptami: October 23
• Ashtami: October 24
• Navami: October 25
• Vijaya Dashami: October 26 - the last day of Navratri culminating in Dussehra.

(Source: drikpanchang.com)